WHY DID JESUS WASH JUDAS’ FEET?

Jesus knew whose feet He was washing. That is what makes the scene in John 13 so remarkable.

The disciples were gathered together before Jesus went to the cross. Judas was there. Jesus knew what Judas had already decided to do. He knew the betrayal was coming. He knew that soon Judas would leave that room, find the religious leaders, and lead them to Him.

Yet Jesus got up from the supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel, poured water into a basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet. Judas was among them.

Think about that for a moment. Jesus knelt before the man who would betray Him.

There was no surprise on Jesus’ part. John makes that very clear:

“For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, ‘Not all of you are clean’” (John 13:11).

Jesus knew exactly what was in Judas’ heart. So why wash his feet?

One reason is that Jesus was demonstrating the kind of humility He expected from His followers. After He finished, He told them:

“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” (John 13:15).

The Lord of glory took the position of a servant. The disciples had often argued about who was greatest, and Jesus answered that kind of thinking without giving them another lecture. He picked up a towel.

But Judas makes the lesson even stronger. It is one thing to serve someone who loves you. It is another thing to serve someone you know will hurt you.

Jesus did not wash Judas’ feet because Judas deserved it. He did not wash them because He approved of what Judas was about to do. He certainly was not pretending that Judas’ sin did not matter. Jesus knew the truth about him, and He still humbled Himself.

There is an important lesson there for us. Christian love is not based entirely on how another person treats us.

Jesus said:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

That does not mean calling evil good. It does not mean remaining in dangerous situations or allowing someone to continually abuse us. It does mean that another person’s sin does not give us permission to become sinful ourselves.

Judas betrayed Jesus, but Jesus remained Jesus. Someone else’s behavior did not determine Christ’s character, and neither should it determine ours.

There is also something sobering about Judas sitting there. He experienced the kindness of Jesus and still betrayed Him.

He had walked with Jesus. He had heard His teaching. He had seen miracles. He had watched the blind receive sight, the sick healed, and even the dead raised. Now the Son of God knelt and washed his feet, and Judas still walked out into the night.

That tells us something frightening about the human heart. Being close to Jesus outwardly is not the same as belonging to Him inwardly.

A person can hear truth and resist it. A person can experience kindness and remain hardened. A person can be surrounded by believers and still refuse to surrender to Christ.

Judas had privileges most people could only imagine, yet those privileges did not save him. He needed what everyone needs: a changed heart.

There is another detail worth noticing. When Jesus spoke of being clean, He was talking about something far greater than dusty feet.

Jesus told Peter:

“He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you” (John 13:10).

John immediately explains that Jesus was referring to Judas. The water in that basin could clean Judas’ feet, but it could not clean his heart.

Only outward religion leaves a person in the same condition. Someone can be baptized, attend church, take communion, read a Bible, sing hymns, give money, and participate in Christian activity while the heart remains far from God.

Judas should warn us never to confuse being around Christ with actually knowing Christ.

Jesus washed Judas’ feet because Jesus was demonstrating who He is: humble, obedient, patient, and willing to serve. Judas’ betrayal revealed Judas, while Jesus’ response revealed Jesus.

Perhaps that is where this account reaches us most personally. Eventually someone will disappoint you. Someone may lie about you, mistreat you, abandon you, or betray your trust.

When that happens, the question becomes more than, “What did they do to me?”

We also need to ask, “What will my response reveal about me?”

Jesus knew whose feet He was washing, and He picked up the towel anyway.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

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